The Coat Of Many Colors

Lyrics: Dolly Parton
Music: Dolly Parton

In a New Riders setlist for 25 June 1969 (see here). The Owsley Foundation apparently has a tape, but that hasn't been circulated or released. I'm not sure it can be a cover of the well-known Dolly Parton song: although that was written in 1969 it wasn't released until 1971. So it may well be a Dawson original with the same title.

Back through the years I go wonderin' once again
Back to the seasons of my youth
And I recall a box of rags that someone gave us
And how my momma put the rags to use

There were rags of many colors, but every piece was small
And I didn't have a coat, and it was way down in the fall
Momma sewed the rags together, sewing every piece with love
She made my coat of many colors that I was so proud of

And while she sewed, she told a story from the bible she had read
About a coat of many colors Joseph wore and then she said
I hope this coat will bring you good luck and happiness
And I just couldn't wait to wear it aAnd momma blessed it with a kiss

My coat of many colors that my momma made for me
Made only from rags but I wore it so proudly
Although we had no money I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors my momma made for me

So with patches on my britches and holes in both my shoes
In my coat of many colors I hurried off to school
Just to find the others laughing and making fun of me
In my coat of many colors that momma made for me

And I couldn't understand it for I felt I was rich
And then I told them of the love my momma sewed in every stitch
And then I told them all the story momma told me while she sewed
And how my coat of many colors as worth more than all their clothes

But they didn't understand it and I tried to make them see
That one is only poor only if they choose to be
It is true we had no money but I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors my momma made for me

Through life I've remained happy and good luck is on my side
I have everything that anyone could ever want from life
But nothing is as precious as my momma's memory
And my coat of many colors that momma made for me